A Community Benefit Agreement with Watts Township

A commitment in writing, not just a promise.


Rowan believes data centers should earn their place in a community. That's why Rowan puts community commitments in writing, with defined amounts, defined priorities, and local input on how the money is used. This page explains how community benefit agreements work and shows what Rowan has delivered in the places it already builds.

What is a community benefit agreement?
A community benefit agreement (CBA) is a formal, enforceable commitment between a developer and the community that hosts a project. It goes beyond what zoning and permitting require. Instead of leaving benefits to chance, a CBA spells out what the developer will invest, where it will go, and how residents and local officials stay involved.

What can a CBA include?

  • Funding for local infrastructure, such as water systems and public facilities

  • Support for schools, STEM programs, and youth activities

  • Long-term support for first responders and emergency services

  • Grants to local nonprofits and civic groups

  • Local hiring and workforce training commitments

  • Ongoing reporting, so residents can see what was delivered

What Rowan has done in other communities

$38.5 million for a mid-sized Texas city
Residents told Rowan again and again that water was their top concern. So the company committed more than $38.5 million under an infrastructure agreement covering all phases of its development. The commitment includes contributions to the City's water infrastructure and aquifer storage and recovery programs, plus funding for a new community center that had been destroyed in a tornado.

A 250% water offset in South Texas
Rowan is investing, alongside its hyperscale partner, in a conservation initiative designed to offset 250% of the campus's water use at a project in south Texas. Rowan has also provided long-term support to the local fire department for equipment and upgrades that improve response times and firefighter safety.

Education investments in Maryland
Rowan partnered with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and the local public school district on two new STEM Centers, as well as a new Trades Lab at the local community college, and a Tech Lab at the local Boys & Girls Club.

Rowan will host a series of listening sessions to understand what you prioritize in a community benefits agreement.

Your voice will inform where tens of millions of dollars should go.

The first listening session is tentatively scheduled for November. Please check back for confirmation on date, time, and location soon.